Improved apparatus for distilling spirits



ma., up QW.- uitefl atre Mw @f @si @M EYLI D. BANNISTER, OF ST. LUIS,MISSUR.

Letters Patent No. 88,434, dated Mel/rch 30, 1869. i

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR. DISTILLING- SPIRITS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ELI D. BANNISTER, of St. Louis, in the county of St.Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Apparatusfor Distilling Spirits; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being `had to theaccompanying drawings, -and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

. The object of this invention is to produce pure spirits by a singlepassing of such spirit-extracts once through the still; and

It consists in the special arrangements of the still and heaters withrelation to each other and their connecting-pipes, and their manner ofoperation.

In the production of pure spirits, by distillation, it has beenheretofore a dithcult matter to separate, and keep apart from the purespirits, what is 'termed fuseloil.

The fusel-oil is an active poison, and if allowed in the pure spirits,in solution, is quite as deleterious as `when separate, and in fact, thecomplete separation of this oil from the spirits has almost baiedrtheskill of the chemist.

rlo enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe the same.

In the drawings- A represents a common still, in which themash to bedistilled is placed, and into which passes steam-pipe b, as in ordinarystills.

B represents a heater, which -is partly illed with water.

G represents a doubler, and

D, the worm-tub.` i

The charge to be distilled is run into still A, by means of pipe a, fromthe mash-tub, and the steam is then introduced through pipe b, whichheats lthe contents of the still, and vaporizes the spirits containedtherein, which then passes through 'pipe c into heater B, which is theonly channel open for such vapor to pass.

Heater B is heated to the temperature sufficient to vaporize spirit, bymeans of pipe c or steam-pipe k and the vapor will pass from heater Binto doubler C, through pipe d, which -is the only means of egress forsuch vapor, and from doubler C, through pipe e, into `worm-tub D, whereit is condensed; and the spirit makes its exit at c.

Heater B is supplied with water, by means of pipe j', from tub D.

A represents a condenser, which is lpartly lled with water. v The vaporfrom still A passes into condenser A', through pipe g, which must, inall cases, have its discharge below the surface of the water in A'.

Pipe h is used to discharge the contents of A into heater B.

'i is a safety-pipe between A and B, for the vapor that may accumulatein A to pass into heater B.

Water is supplied to condenser A' by means of pipe j.

l is a discharge-pipe from heater B back into still A; and

l is another pipe to discharge the low spirits into heater B; and Y o isa discharge-pipe for still A; and

m is the discharge-pipe for steam, when steam-pipe 7c is used to heatthe contents of B.

The pipe c passes from the top of the still A to nearly the bottom ofheater B, at all events; and in every case, it must be below thewater-surface in the heater B.

'Ihe spirits, in vapor, pass through pipe c direct into the water inheater B, by which process the` fusel-oil will rise to the surface ofthe water, and the other properties will mix with the water.

Heater B is then heated, by any means, to a degree that will vaporizethe spirits, and not the water and fusel-oil, which are left in heaterB, to he discharged through `pipe l, while the pure spirits, in vapor,pass oft' through pipe d into doubler O, and so through the worm-tube todischarge n.v

The pipe g conducts the vapor from still A into and below the surface ofthe water, shown in blue in A', where the spirit receives a water-bath,and is then conducted into heater B, through pipe h, but the fusel-oildoes not pass into the heater B with the spirit, but is retained upon'the surface of the Water in A until purposely discharged through pipe hinto -heater B, and from heater B into still A, where all the essentialqualities, if there be any, are vaporized and pass into A', when the oiland impurities are discharged by pipe o, thus entirely separating thepoisonous oils from the spirits, at a single operation, and producing apure spirit, in every Way improved in quality.

The still, heaters, and tubes, are constructed in the usual manner, ofmetal; sheet-copper being preferable,v but any of themetals that willanswer the purpose'may be used, and can be made of any capacitydesired.-

To condenser A and heater B are attached a watergauge and thermometer,which will, at all times, show the height and temperature of contentsinside thereof.

The drain and discharge-pipes have stop-cocks, conveniently placedthereon, as well as in connecting-pipes c and I angl aware that theprocess of condensing the alcohol-vapor in water, for removingimpurities, has been in use, and is described in patent, No. 61,388.Such manner of introducing the vapor into the Water, as thereindescribed, I do not claim; but having thus described my invention,

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent isl. The condenserA', when connected with the still,

in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

2. The combination of the still A, condenser A', and beater B, with thedoubler C and Worm-tub D, for the purpose substantially as described.

3. The distilling of spirits,v by means of still A, heater B, doublerO,- and Worm-tub Dlsubstantially als described.

4. The condenser A', containing water, the manner of conducting thevaporized impure spirits into A', and below the surface of the Water,and the discharging the spirits into'heater B, after receiving thewater-bath, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

E. D. BANNISTER. Witnesses:

HENRY N. MYGATT, J AMES S. GEER.

